Week 12, Part I

We’re three-quarters of the way through Week 12 in the AFC East, with only the Primetime Patriots left to play. Sunday’s action included a matchup of the bottom-feeders of the division and the surprising upstart stealing a win against a team with much bigger issues on its mind.

The headliner game of the week for the AFC East saw the 2-9 Jets/Titans taking on the 0-11 Dolphins and the throwback-clad Jets put a whooping on the woeful Dolphins, 40-13. Miami QB John Beck looked like somebody who would get cut by BYU, throwing 3 interceptions and losing 2 fumbles in a performance that probably made Phins fans pine for the glorious days of Ray Lucas. The Jets turned those turnovers into points and handed the Dolphins their worst loss of the 2007 season. Jets’ RBs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington combined to run for over 140 yards on the day, and QB Kellen Clemens played a decent game.

The other AFC East game had the Bills heading into Washington for a matchup with the mourning Redskins. In a very emotionally charged stadium the Bills were able to keep themselves close enough on the leg of kicker Rian Lindell, who had 5 FGs on the day. Lindell kicked the game winner for the Bills with 4 seconds left, with a huge assist from Skins coach Joe Gibbs. Gibbs brain-farted the Bills from a 51-yard attempt to a 36-yard attempt when trying to call consecutive timeouts, which resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Washington. Lindell’s kick easily split the uprights and the Bills moved to 6-6 on the season. Buffalo now finds itself in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt, trailing the 7-5 Browns and Titans in the race for the 6th playoff spot.